These are the NFL teams that feature male cheerleaders in the 2025 season

Male cheerleaders in the NFL are becoming more and more common but their introduction at many teams has not been without its controversy.

The recent development has reignited a broader debate about gender roles, tradition, and diversity in sports. While male cheerleaders are common in college and high school, their presence on the NFL sidelines has been a source of both celebration and backlash.

For decades, NFL cheerleading has been synonymous with a specific “hyper-feminine” aesthetic. All-female dance-style squads became the dominant model in the 1950s and 1960s and when men began to join as full-fledged cheerleaders, it challenged a tradition that many fans considered a part of the game-day experience.

The addition of male cheerleaders has become a part of the ongoing “culture wars” that have also affected other aspects of the NFL, such as the playing of the Black national anthem and the display of Pride flags. Critics, particularly on social media, have framed the move as the league becoming “too woke,” arguing that it is an unnecessary change and that these spots “should have” gone to women. This backlash often includes homophobic language and personal attacks directed at the male cheerleaders.

Breaking the mould

In 2018, the Los Angeles Rams made history by adding Quinton Peron and Napoleon Jinnies as the first male cheerleaders to openly dance with an NFL team. The New Orleans Saints also added a male cheerleader that year.

As of 2025, twelve NFL teams use male cheerleaders but in recent days the Minnesota Vikings’ decision to add male cheerleaders Blaize Shiek and Louie Conn has sparked a wave of online criticism, with some season ticket holders reportedly threatening to cancel their memberships. This backlash was amplified by homophobic comments from former NFL player Antonio Brown.

The NFL teams to have male cheerleaders in 2025

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

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